Genre: RPG
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami

As a 1995 release and perhaps the first JRPG in the entire PlayStation library, Suikoden doesn't push any technical boundaries. Most of the game is played from a three-quarters overhead perspective, with sprite-based tilesets. The somewhat grainy aesthetic looks like something out of a Windows 3.1-vintage CD-ROM multimedia game-- it's not horrible, but not a lesson in beauty either. The battles do leverage the system's 3D hardware, with simple polygonal fights that zoom in and out during critical hits. The best part of the visuals are the evocative character portraits, which do a nice job of conveying each character personality.

Like the visuals, Suikoden's aural side isn't doing anything fancy. The music is purely DSP based, and the samples are of high quality. The problem is with the compositions, which are a bit cliche and "howdy-doody". Some of them are a little more moody, and at least the battle theme is interesting. The game's sound effects are minimal, and restricted to some basic combat "whooshes" and sword clashes. There is no voice acting, although in this 2024 era of overdone productions having a purely text-based game is somewhat refreshing.

Suikoden plays like a typical JRPG: one button-- square-- opens the menu where items can be used, or equipment leveraged. A unique twist is that there are no magic points-- crystals are equipped to the characters, which then give limited uses of certain spells, and which are only replenished by sleeping at an inn. Another twist is that party members come and go like crazy, and countless dozens can be recruited over the course of the game. These party members also fill out the player's headquarters, occupying weapon shops, blacksmith stores, and so forth. Simple "rock-paper-scissors" mass battles occasionally take place, but they are trivial to win and not that interesting.

The biggest problem with Suikoden is that when characters die-- and they are killed off suddenly and unexpectedly-- they erase any items they had on them from the game, completely. This reviewer lost an item essentially necessary for beating the game, didn't realize it at first, and saved, ending his playthrough on the spot. The game has some interesting ideas, like the ability to recruit so many party members-- but the title's somewhat forgettable aesthetic and soundtrack let it down. Still, there was enough here to spawn an entire series from this release.